Short-term functionality is related to clinical severity in patients with pulmonary embolism

<bold>Introduction:</bold> Although some studies have studied the sequelae of patients after pulmonary embolism, little is known regarding clinical severity and its relation with functionality and quality of life. <bold>Objective:</bold> to evaluate the relationship between clinical severity at hospitalization and functionality at mid-term in patients with pulmonary embolism. <bold>Methods:</bold> Hospitalized pulmonary embolism patients were divided into two groups according to the clinical severity that was evaluated by the Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index. Patients with a score ≥160 were included in the high severity group (HSG) and patients with a score <160 were included in the low-moderate severity group (LMSG). Functionality was assessed by the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS), and quality of life by the EuroQol-5Dimensions (EQ-5D). <bold>Results:</bold> 159 patients were included in the study (126 in the LMSG and 33 in the HSG). At discharge, there were significant differences between groups in WHODAS (58.43±28.82 in the LMSG and 72.27±32.37 in the HSG) and quality of life (58.72±23.38 and 53.50±20.85 respectively). At one-month follow-up, there were significant differences between LMSG and HSG in WHODAS (49.00± 19.53, 96.00±49.39, respectively) and EQ-5D (78.00±70.00, 45.00±5.48, respectively). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> There is a relationship between clinical severity with functionality and quality of life at hospital discharge and at one-month follow-up in patients with pulmonary embolism.